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Common Washroom Problems and How to Avoid Them
It is often said that you can judge the quality of a place by its washrooms. Attractive, hygienic washroom systems will make a great impression on your visitors and demonstrate to your staff that you value their wellbeing.
Washrooms in commercial establishments generally have a high footfall. This is an important factor when designing a new washroom. Aspects such as durability, hygiene and ease of maintenance will make sure that your washroom will make a great impression for years to come.
Regular cleaning and maintenance are important factors in avoiding problems, but there are several things to consider when upgrading your commercial washroom that will help to prevent or minimise many common washroom problems.
Common Washroom Problem 1: Bad Smells
Perhaps the most off-putting thing that a person can experience in a washroom is an unpleasant odour. Smells that remain even after the washroom has been cleaned can be an indication of a deeper problem.
Good ventilation, either with windows or extraction fans, is a must for any washroom, as is adequate drainage, however the materials used in your washroom are also important. If your washroom has cracked tiles or unprotected panelling, splashed liquids can soak in and cause lingering smells.
Eliminating porous from you washrooms, especially in the areas that are most likely to come in to contact with liquids, is an effective way of preventing lingering smells. At Dunhams, the majority of the materials we use to manufacture cubicles, duct panels and vanity unit ranges have been sealed with the Sanitized® treatment. Perfect for locker rooms and washrooms, this makes our products more resistant to moisture and prevent the growth of mould and bacteria, making them ideal for preventing the build up of smells.
Common Washroom Problem 2: Leaks
A leak in your washroom will create a very unpleasant experience for your visitors, as well as causing a hazardous situation where slips are more likely. A leak could also put your washroom out of order until a plumber is able to fix the issue.
Our IPS Duct Panel Systems allow you to conceal plumbing to protect piping against potential damage. The Duct Panel System also comes with removable panels and the option of hinged and lockable panels to make maintenance in the washroom even easier.
Common Washroom Problem 3: Damaged Fittings
From cubicle locks to tap handles its always frustrating when fittings get damaged in a busy washroom environment and washroom users are faced with an ‘out of order’ sign. This is one of the main reasons why all our cubicle fittings are manufactured from high quality aluminium or stainless steel rather than a cheaper metal or plastic which has a tendency to break frequently.
The use of no-touch sanitaryware has strong hygienic benefits and is also an effective way of limiting the problem of breakages. Fittings such as the Electroflo Toilet Sensor Flush and the Delabie Tempomix 4 sensor taps remove the need of levers and handles.
Common Washroom Problem 4: Rust
As well as fixtures and fittings becoming damaged through sustained usage, rust is another problem that can affect the overall appearance of your washroom. Cheap metal fittings even if regularly cleaned are prone to rust as soon as they are exposed to the washroom atmosphere and this will create a poor impression for your users.
The fittings on our standard range are manufactured from high quality polished aluminium which, as well as being light and strong is resistant to rusting, providing a significant advantage in terms of durability and longevity.
Our premium Vista Range includes brushed stainless steel cubicle hardware which has extremely high resistance to corrosion and rust making it a popular range in the commercial sector.
The Anteon range of durable solid grade laminate (SGL) cubicles is complemented by hygienic and attractive copper coated fittings. Copper fittings provide an attractive rust-free aesthetic for your washrooms and help with infection control. Copper provides microbial protection against bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens, actively destroying the microbes in a very short time compared to aluminium, plastic or stainless steel.
Common Washroom Problem 5: Mould
As washrooms have the tendency to be more humid than other rooms, it is prudent to take active measures to prevent the formation of mould. Mould will form on porous surfaces such as tile grout or on chipped or cracked tiles.
Our newly introduced Nuance range of hygienic wall panelling is a perfect alternative to tiling, removing the risk of mould build up in grout or damaged tiles.The Nuance System is also easy to install and uses 3 times less sealant than tiles, the panels have been sealed with the Sanitized® treatment ensuring that the wall covering is waterproof and hygienic.
Nuance Wall Coverings can be used in both new washrooms or as part of the refurbishment of an existing washroom and can be used instead of or on top of existing tiling.
Exemplary Washroom Systems
Whether you are working on refurbishment project for an existing washroom or an entirely new build project with washroom requirements it is important to consider the problems that the washroom may develop over time and to think about long-term durability from the design stage. Most washrooms will look pleasant when they are brand new or after a refit, but could you be leaving yourself open to problems down the line?
The expert team at Dunhams will be happy to provide help and advice with your washroom design project. Contact our team today or call us on 01603 424 855 to find out more.
